Job Analysis Part 2

As I stated earlier, I am currently employed at a hospital library.  I believe this will be a great asset for my future as a health sciences librarian.  The job announcement that I posted for part 1 of my job analysis is that of a librarian in the medical science field.  It is offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs.  This means, it is not only a health science library job but also a federal job.  Personally, working for the federal government would be favorable to me because they offer many benefits and great wages.

My background consists of public library work, as well as hospital library service.   This has prepared me to interact with a wide variety of patrons.  I am able to converse with health care professionals using medical terminology but, also with the patients/general public in layman’s terms.   Of course, I could always use more time to study medical terminology.

To prepare for a job as a medical librarian for the federal government, I am currently enrolled in the School of Library Science at Wayne State pursuing my MLIS.  During my MLIS education I will gear my course work towards a health sciences outlook.  This summer I am enrolled in a program with the University of Southern Mississippi to study library science in London, England.  During that time I will be touring various libraries in the United Kingdom.  All graduate students on the trip will be required to visit some libraries solo.  I will use that opportunity to explore various hospital or health science libraries.  As a number of the physicians and patients I come in contact with on a daily basis have earned their education in other countries.  This experience will better prepare me for differences in culture and sometimes communication.    

One very important way I can prepare for a job in a Veterans hospital library is to volunteer at one.  The John D. Dingell Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Library is a near-by Veterans hospital library.  I did not realize when I did my library tours how close this hospital was or I would have visited.